Geeks on a budget - 12/22, complete! Read reflections within....

[zweihund]

Yes, I am following in the footsteps of oybolshoi and WDW Poly Princess and starting a pre-trippie of my own. If you are familiar with my other TR’s then you are aware that the contents of said report will consist of self-deprecating humor, obscure geek references, and enough alcohol to kill a small elephant.

So it begins.

It all started when we booked a 7-day cruise for 2008. Being a compulsive planner, I could not let the next 18 months go by without constant visits to the DIS, and excited storytelling to those who will be joining us. After we convinced silversae to come, she came up with a brilliant pass-the-time strategy:

Book a 3-night taster for THIS year.

Genius!

Now, we don’t know exactly WHEN we are going (though I have decided it will be September 6th….I just haven’t asked anyone else’s opinion on that. I’ve also decided we will all be in a category 8 cabin. And I have most of the itinerary planned. In my head. And you thought I was kidding about compulsive behavior? Oh, silly young reader. You do not know me well enough.) but I figured I could start the whole planning process anyhow. Because this year, we have a theme:

Geeks on a budget

Yes, we are trying to save little bits here and there so that our 7-day in 2008 can be this massive blow-out. I plan to be intoxicated and in the spa for the duration of that cruise. Ports of call? Overrated. Anyhow, that doesn’t leave much wiggle room for our 3-day adventure so I am using this as an opportunity to make the best of all of the “free” features our favorite boat has to offer.

And by “free” of course I mean costing $1450. I wonder if anyone has ever tried to bargain with DCL to just rent out a chair on the deck 7 overlook for $75 instead of sinking all that money into a room you’re never in? I imagine a deck full of vagrant wanderers, sponging at the buffets and the soda machines and napping in the tile loungers of the tropical rainforest……

Back to the cruise planning.

So far, my tentative plans include a “splurge” for a day-pass to the rainforest room. But otherwise? We want to spend absolutely no money. Ok, maybe a drink at the sail away party. And probably a mochaccino. So let’s just say we have a budget of approximately $50, tipping not included.

I can totally do this.

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

Congrats, Erica!

Can't wait to read the trip report for this one! If anyone can do it on a budget and make us fall over laughing, it's you!

 

[zweihund]

This weekend I worked on part one of our budget cruise planning, which is a part I like to call “being able to actually pay for this [currently imaginary] cruise you are taking.”

I spent 10 hours at my old job, trying to convince the elderly folks that yes, I really did get my degree in occupational therapy just to drive all the way across town and make them put their socks on without my help. For this, I get PRN therapist pay which is only a small trade-off for having virtually no weekend. The good news is, when the check comes the [currently imaginary] cruise will be about 1/3 of the way paid for.

Now, paying for [currently imaginary] cruises is not the primary reason why I chose to start working the occasional weekend at my old job; it is merely a bonus. I had originally intended just to do an hour here and an hour there to help them out and to gain a little extra spending money…..because who doesn’t like extra spending money? But then the talk of potential cruising began and a light bulb went off in my head.

Suddenly I had all of this free time to spend back at that hospital when a year and a half ago all I wanted to do was run as far away from it as humanly possible (I won’t go into the details, but suffice to say I found a place that was much better for me and have been quite happy there for the past 18 months) – because now? Now it meant I could be back on deck 4 lounging in those wonderful deck chairs with the breeze in my hair, watching the land fall away as we made our way to paradise.

Besides, I can always relax NEXT weekend. Right?

My current plan is to work one weekend every month, and maybe an occasional second, until the [currently imaginary] cruise is payed for and we have set aside as much as possible for next year's ACTUAL cruise.
This could prove to be pretty lucrative, until I burn out at least……

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

I think you've got a great plan going! And I think we're becoming pen pals!

After our sons accident in October (just 10 weeks before our week at WDW and our Eastern Cruise), I think the world the therapists that helped him! It's nice that you have the opportunity to look at going back with a new perspective-use them for your cruise income! Two bonuses-you help yourself and Lionel (Think Palo, deck chairs, martini's, etc.) and you are helping those who need you.

By the way, I did go to the martini tasting on our cruise. I got my typical luck-I got the nasty martini's!! Bourbon, Gin and some other yucky one! They weren't yummy ones you told me about-jolly rancher, Italian wedding cake! Next time I'm going to ask! If not, I'll just find the bartender that makes the best Cosmo and go from there! But beware.....best Cosmo's are free at the art auction! 5 pieces of art later, the art wasn't free!

I'm looking forward to your new Geek adventure! Have a great week!

 

[DeloreanGirl]

OH MY GOSH A ZWEIHUND REPORT! I am SO here!

 

[Tink rules]

You could always run a 50/50 at your next family function!!!

I love your Imaginary cruise... I've been imagining mine for months already... I'm booking as soon as my next pay bonus comes in... until then, I get to imagine.... dream...PLAN...

 

[pppiglet]

How fun...an imaginary cruise planning report! I'm here....keep writing.....

 

[Tink rules]

Hey -



Can I imagine I'm on the cruise with you???

 

[zweihund]

By the way, I did go to the martini tasting on our cruise. I got my typical luck-I got the nasty martini's!! Bourbon, Gin and some other yucky one! They weren't yummy ones you told me about-jolly rancher, Italian wedding cake! Next time I'm going to ask! If not, I'll just find the bartender that makes the best Cosmo and go from there! But beware.....best Cosmo's are free at the art auction! 5 pieces of art later, the art wasn't free!

When we went to the auction last year we got NO free Cosmos. I guess because we didn't bring our checkbooks

I wonder if different sailings have different martinis at the tasting? Sorry it wasn't any good, I would have been disappointed too!

OH MY GOSH A ZWEIHUND REPORT! I am SO here!

How fun...an imaginary cruise planning report! I'm here....keep writing.....

Thanks for the support!

You could always run a 50/50 at your next family function!!!

I love your Imaginary cruise... I've been imagining mine for months already... I'm booking as soon as my next pay bonus comes in... until then, I get to imagine.... dream...PLAN...

Now THAT is a great idea. Though that might only drum up about 20 bucks. Still! That's a day in the rainforest room........

Hey -



Can I imagine I'm on the cruise with you???

Absolutely. Our imaginations are what keep us young

 

[oybolshoi]

Excellent! I've got something new and hilarious to read while pretending to work!!

 

[zweihund]

Excellent! I've got something new and hilarious to read while pretending to work!!

And by all means, if you have any budget advice oh master of the pre-planning, do send it my way!

I mentioned to Lionel this evening while we were walking the dog that I started a pre-trip report. He looked at me, looked at the dog, and said "I don't understand this part of your Mom's life."

I said

 

[Tink rules]

And by all means, if you have any budget advice oh master of the pre-planning, do send it my way!

I mentioned to Lionel this evening while we were walking the dog that I started a pre-trip report. He looked at me, looked at the dog, and said "I don't understand this part of your Mom's life."

I said

Yeah... the guys don't get us, do they???

Is your pup male or female...just want to know if he or she understood you either...

 

[grumpydude]

And by all means, if you have any budget advice oh master of the pre-planning, do send it my way!

I mentioned to Lionel this evening while we were walking the dog that I started a pre-trip report. He looked at me, looked at the dog, and said "I don't understand this part of your Mom's life."

I said

What did the dog say?

 

[oybolshoi]

And by all means, if you have any budget advice oh master of the pre-planning, do send it my way!

I mentioned to Lionel this evening while we were walking the dog that I started a pre-trip report. He looked at me, looked at the dog, and said "I don't understand this part of your Mom's life."

I said

Budget?



Has there ever been anything in one of my reports that's ever given you the idea that I actually know how to budget? I always have the best of intentions and then I get on the ship and I'm pretty much like..."yeah, we do need 56 mochaccinos in 6 days and $500 worth of spa treatments, and ***** worth of alcohol."

I have no self-discipline on vacation. And neither does Jay. It makes for deadly vacation fun!

BTW - Lionel's question to your dog is pretty much the same response Jay had. He looked at our cat and said, "Don't you think your crazy mommy is spending waaaaaay too much time with these people?"

I'm subscribing to this one (which is not something I normally do) because I know it's going to be fabulous!

Hey...is there any chance we can hook up in October during F&W? I know this probably won't help with your budgeting issues, but surely we could work something out?

PS. SHOUTING OUT TO GRUMPYDUDE!!!!!

 

[Jennifer48]

Oooooooooooo a zweihund pre-trippie, this is gonna be good

I bet you can totally do the cruise on a budget compared to the rest of us that have to pay to fly down and book a hotel the night before the cruise. I'm just a weee bit jealous

 

[zweihund]

Is your pup male or female...just want to know if he or she understood you either...

What did the dog say?

Oscar is a boy, but he is a Mama's boy, so he just gave Lionel a puzzled wrinly face and kapt walking with me. I think he figures I remember to feed him twice a day so I can't be TOO crazy.

This is my baby:

He's a mix of Chinese Shar Pei (hence the wrinkles) and Boxer (hence the drool, not pictured). So unbearably cute, he turns cat lovers to the other side. Mwahahahaha.....

Budget?



Has there ever been anything in one of my reports that's ever given you the idea that I actually know how to budget? I always have the best of intentions and then I get on the ship and I'm pretty much like..."yeah, we do need 56 mochaccinos in 6 days and $500 worth of spa treatments, and ***** worth of alcohol."

I have no self-discipline on vacation. And neither does Jay. It makes for deadly vacation fun!

BTW - Lionel's question to your dog is pretty much the same response Jay had. He looked at our cat and said, "Don't you think your crazy mommy is spending waaaaaay too much time with these people?"

I'm subscribing to this one (which is not something I normally do) because I know it's going to be fabulous!

Hey...is there any chance we can hook up in October during F&W? I know this probably won't help with your budgeting issues, but surely we could work something out?

That was a good one, huh? Thought you might like the whole budget thing. I have to say, this vacation is going to be a major exercise in self restraint unlike anything we have every done. Usually we say "ok, [insert piddly amount here] is our max budget" and then we blow it within about 10 minutes of stepping over the threshold of the boat.

And we can absolutely hook up at F&W, we will definately be going at least once.....twice.....well, as often as we can really. Just PM me!

PS. SHOUTING OUT TO GRUMPYDUDE!!!!!

Oooooooooooo a zweihund pre-trippie, this is gonna be good

I bet you can totally do the cruise on a budget compared to the rest of us that have to pay to fly down and book a hotel the night before the cruise. I'm just a weee bit jealous

I do admit I have a slight advantage, being an hour from the port. The only negative to the location is we're home so fast after being kicked off (excuse me, I mean "asked to leave politely") that we don't really know what happened. Talk about a reality check.

 

[zweihund]

Hey, we made it to the second page, and I don't even have confirmation yet! Sil is sick (which frankly is NO excuse, but I'm trying to take the high road here) so we are patiently (patiently? Well, it sounds nice anyhow) waiting to hear back from her about vacation days and a general timeframe.

Course, after reading all of this she might opt out of sharing the room with us altogether, this making us have to stretch our flimsy little budget even MORE. I better put my nice hat back on!

Hehe. She knows I love her.

Hopefully.

Sil? I love you. Stop being sick, ok?

Currently I am resisting the urge to go out and buy a bunch of things for the cruise. You know......new beach bag, another bathing suit, some new flip flops, a car, whatever. The part that has been easy is the fact that we don't get paid for another week. And when we DO get paid, we have to save anything that doesn't go straight to "the Man" for our family visit the week after Easter. So no new stuff for me.

And seriously, that's fine. I mean, I looked in my closet last night and I have at least two very cute little dresses that I have not worn since last summer. Plus, I have four bathing suits. FOUR! And the flip flops? Well, a friend gave me a pair of black Crocs back in February that I want to exchange, and what better trade than for Crocs flops?

But wait, there's more.

I spent so much time making up my travel bag for last year's vacation that I stocked up waaaaay too much. So now? I have enough tiny toiletries to get me through at least two more years.

See? I don't need to buy anything. Except maybe a bottle (or two) of a versatile liquor that we can bring up to the adult pool. I'm thinking drink station + flask + waterproof camera = scrapbook moments GALORE.
Absolut Vanilla? Rum? I dunno. Something I won't get tired of for three solid days. Suggestions? Brenda?

 

[oybolshoi]

versatile alcohol...hmmmm

Are you thinking mixed drinks? I might lean towards a bottle of Champagne and some Pomegranate...Pomagranate...Pomegranite...Pretty Pink Pama stuff to make those Frenchified Kir Royales.

Do you like Lemoncello? That's great served cold by itself and can also be added to other beverages...although I've never tried it that way (yet).

What about some Irish Cream? You like that, don't you? O'Maras is only $9 per bottle out here in the sticks!

 

[Boo-ger]

We're in a financial slump, but decided to do vacation anyway. We did a 7 Day Eastern on 3/3/07, plus 3 nights at the Beach Club Villas, and we spent a little over $500 on the cruise and $270 at WDW. That included mostly pictures on the cruise, a few drinks, tips, some souvenirs (I can't resist the pins!), and all of our meals at WDW. The only "excursion" we did was snorkeling at Castaway Cay. It was actually kind of nice to just relax, and not worry about having to make deadlines. The next cruise (another Eastern, hopefully next year), will be a lot more expensive. I've got spa plans and definitely more alcohol.

Good luck with your budget.

 

[Tink rules]

Except that it's probably illegal... I could stop at the liquor store and get you some of those little bottles like the ones they serve on the plane...

I think we should start a donate to the Geek's on a budget trip...

What's your favorite color???